Tear-cord applying machine and method



Dec. 8, 1953 w. F. HANSER 2,561,582

TEAR-CORD APPLYING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheetl ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 8, 1953 w. F. HANSER 7 2,661,532

TEAR-CORD APPLYING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED i r ifi 'hld'l FFICE FEAR-CURB APELYINGMACHINE AND METHDB Application December 15, 1951, Serial No. 261,87 9

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a tear-cord applying machine and method. Theinvention is particularly useful in the application of cord or othertear means to a package, whereby upon the drawing of the cord thepackage may be readily opened.

In the application of a tear filament to a package where the filament issecured by adhesive, great diiiiculty is encountered in the feeding ofsuch a filament properly within the machine at the precise locationneeded because of the light or fragile character of the filament andbecause the use of adhesive often attaches the filament to parts of themachine, etc, causing stoppage and loss of time or a nus-feeding of thefilament to the package. Further, difiiculties are encountered inattempts to pass packages rapidly through the machine while effectingautomatically a severing of the filament at predetermined intervals andwithout causing misalignment of the unsevered portion of the filament asit approaches the next container. A need has long existed for a rapidand accurate machine and method of the application of tearcord orfilaments to containers.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and machinefor overcoming the difficulties described above and for insuring therapid and accurate application of the draw elements to the package.Another object is to provide a method and means whereby the draw memberis applied at relatively little or no increased expense during theactual wrapping operation which is already necessary in the forming ofthe completed package. Yet another object is to provide means forapplying a tear-cord to a container adjacent the cover of the container,whereby upon the drawing of the cord, a sharp, uniform severance of thewrapper is effected without producing jagged lines therein and withoutdisfiguring the wrapper. A still fur ther object is to provide a processand apparatus whereby a container, after being glued along its bodyportion, is rotated to draw the tear-cord there-about while at the sametime affixing a wrapper to the package and about the cord while alsoproviding means for severing the cord at a point beyond the wrapper. Astill further object is to provide in a wrapping machine for acontainer, means for feeding a draw-cord accurately to the container andmaintaining the cord in a predetermined position for accurate engagementwith the container as the same is rotated in the wrapper-engaging and inthe wrapping operation. Other specific objects and advantages willappear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown in an illustrative embodiment by the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure l is a broken side View in elevation ofapparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective viewillustrating an initial step in the cord-applying operation; Fig. 3, aview similar to Fig. 2 but showing the successive ste Fig. 4, a viewsimilar to Fig. 3 but showing the following step in which the wrapper isbeing picked up by the glued container and covering the tear-cordalready attached to the container; Fig. 5, 2. diagrammatic perspectiveView similar to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, but showing the later step in whichthe cord is brought within the cutting apparatus; Fig. 6, a view similarto Fig. 5, but showing a continuation of the wrapping step and thebringing of the cord within the cutter for a final severance; Fig. 7, aView similar to Fig. 2, but showing the final step in which thecontainer is completely wrapped with the draw-cord thereunder; Fig. 8, abroken top plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 9, an enlarged sectionaldetail view showing the container in cord and wrapperengaging osition;Fig. 10, a detail sectional View, the section being taken as indicatedat line llllli of Fig. 9; Fig. 11, an enlarged perspective detail viewshowing the cutter apparatus employed; Fig. 12, a sectional view of theair tube employed for maintaining the draw-cord in a desired directionforengagement with the container; and Fig. 13, a broken detailperspective view of the cord-retarding means employed.

In the practice of the invention herein described, I employ any suitabletype of wrapping machine in which a container is partially coated with aglue and a wrapper applied thereto. Il'l' the illustration given, thereis shown a wrapperapplying apparatus which is well-known in the art andwhich need not be described in great detail. As shown more clearly inFigs. 1 and 8, the wrapper apparatus is provided with a base support iton which is mounted parallel tracks ll adapted to receive a container l2for rotation thereon. Between the tracks H is suspended a magazinesupport E3 in which container wrappers are supported and fed upwardly.To facilitate the picking up of the wrappers, the tracks I are steppedupwardly at M and I5, and the raising of the tracks also facilitates thebringing of the draw-cord within the cutter elements, as will be laterdescribed.

To cause the containers l2 to roll along the tracks ll through themachine, there are provided a pair of continuous belts It mounted onpulleys I1 and I8. The pulleys ll are mounted upon a shaft [9, and thepulleys l8 are mounted upon a shaft 20. The shaft 2!! is provided with adrive pulley 2| connected by belt 22 to a driven pulley 23, driven bymotor 24 through belt 25 and pulley 26.

In order to urge the belt I6 against each container I2 as it passesthrough the machine, rolling on tracks II, I provide a series of rollers21 mounted on shafts 28, the shafts being carried by slide blocks 29within the frame guides 30, each block being urged downwardly by aspring 3|, as shown more clearly in Fig. 10. Since such structure iswell-known, a detailed description herein is believed unnecessary.

Suitable means for applying the glue to the container is provided in theapparatus. This consists of a glue pot 32, in which is mounted a roller33 and a transfer roller 34 is provided for rotating in a directionopposite to the rotation of the container l2 for applying glue thereto.In operation, the roller 34 rotates at a high speed for applying glue tothe surface of the container withspaeed gaps in the glue applyingsurfaces, whereby the container has intermediate portions 35 and-36which'are free of glue and which contactwith the drive belts l6, asshown best in Fig. 10.

The container I2 may be of any suitable type or construction. .In theillustration given, a cylindrical container is provided having a cap orclosure lid 3'lat one end and the glue coating extending over the innerportion of the cap so as to cause the wrapper "38, when secured to thecontainer, to thus unite the cap to the body of the container, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 7.

In conjunction with the foregoing illustrative apparatus, in which acontainer is coated with adhesive and provided with a wrapper as it isadvanced through the machine, I provide means for supporting atear-cord, means for retarding the movement .of "the tear-cord, meansfor supporting the tear-cord inaccurate alignment with thepcontainerwhich 'is being rolled upon the tracks to cause the cord to be picked upby the glue of the container, and means finally for severing the cordafter it has been extended about the container and the cover has beenapplied. I will now describe such means.

Upon a bracket 39 carried by the frame of the machine, is mounted aspindle carrying a twine cone 40 from which the tear-cord or filament'41 is drawn forwardlyas it isneeded. The'cord 4| passes through thefelt strips 42 support'edby the clamp bracket 43, and from thencethecord passes through the lower portion of an air tube 46, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 12. The tear-cord extends through an opening 45 inthe lower portionof the'tube 4d, and past the inwardly-turned lip l6. Anair pipe d1 communicates with tube "44 and leads from a source ofcompressed 'air (not shown).

A solenoid-operated valve 38 controls the opening and-closing of theconduit '41. A shield "49 of sheet metal or other suitable material issupported-alongside the tube and spaces the tube from the adjacent drivebelt 16, as shown best in Fig. 10.

Beyondthe shield-dais a cutter device 50'which may be of anysuitable'type. In the illustration 70 given, I provide a solenoid -5lfor "operating a plunger 52 secured to the upper end of a bell crank 53mounted upon a pivot 54 carried by the frame member 55. A cutter 56 issecured to the lower end of the bell crank arm 53,-and is adapted to bemoved forward pasta cutting edge 51 supported by the member 58. A spring59 normally urges the cutter members 56 and 51 in spacedapart relation,as illustrated in Fig. 11.

In order to control the solenoid valve 48. I provide a contact member 60which, when engaged by a container, causes the valve 48 to close theconduit 47.

Spaced forwardly of the contact 50 is a second contact switch member 61which, when engaged by a container, closes the circuit of the solenoid5!, causing'the cutter member 56 to advance and sever the cord 4 I Itwill beunderstoodthat the switches 60 and '61 may be located-at anydesired point and, if desired, located on the same side of the machinewith the cutter and the cord-feeding parts. For example, the cordsupport, tube, shield, cutter, and switches 50 and 6! may all be mountedin a compact manner upon a. bracket structure supported at one side ofthe machine. I prefer to employ along with the tracks I l,.side framemem bers 62 which abut the ends of the containers l2 and keep themrolling in a plane transversely of their-axes across the machine.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus and method, a container 12is fed forwardly upon the tracks I! and the lower portion of. the beltI-B carries the container forwardly alongthe tracks. 'When the containerreachesthe glue-applying roller -34, the rapid rotation of the roller'34 in the-opposite direction temporarily halts the advance of ,thecontainer t2 while causing the container to be coated with glue at allpoints except at the annular spaces 35 and 36 near its ends. After thisrief pause, the container is carried forward by the belt it and :meetsthe cord GI which is held at the desired angle for engagement with theadhesive-coated container, as illustrated in Fig. 2. At the point whenthe cord is making contact with the container, one end of the containerengages the contact 60 and the .valve '48 cutsoff the flow ofcompressed-airthrough tube-M. The cord, thus released engages theglue-coated side of the container and --is firmly gripped thereby .in aline parallel with the end of the container. As the container is rolledforwardly, the:tear-c'ord M is drawn through the retarder feltsfdzzandisextendedabout the end of the containeradjacent the edge of the cap orclosure lid'31. Simultaneously, the-glue wall of thecontainer .l2:.pi'cks up a wrapper '38 from'the magazine 13 and the wrapper extendsabout the-container as the containerrotates, asillustrated. more'clearlyin Figs. 2 to 7, inclusive. -'As the container advances -further, itengages the switch filxan'd the cutter 50 operates to sever'the cord'41. Since the container haspassed-behind the contact-switch 60, Y

the solenoid valve "48 is urged open-by 'its spring so that compressedairagainfiows through :the tube 44 .and holds :the unsevered end portionof the cord 3! again in a:trueline-'foraccurate en- 1113 common toemploy agtransversely ;opfer"ating continuous glue belt -for:applyingmasteor: other 5. adhesive to theoverlapped portion forsecuring the overlapped edge. Since such structure, however, is old andwell-known in the art and is not essential to the practice of thepresent invention, a detailed description of such structure is hereinbelieved unnecessary.

It will be understood that in actual operation, a series of containers12 are fed in rapid succession through the machine, each quickly pickingup a cord portion and wrapping a label wrapperthere-about, and, after asevering of the cord, being advanced and discharged from the machine.Further, it will be observed that the raised portions E i and E of thetrack cooperate with the cord cutter in elevating the cord-carryingportionof the container to bring the cord within the cutter elementsjust prior to the actuation of the switch 6| by contact with thecontainer i 2.

The shield 45 is effective in keeping the string after severance fromdrifting into contact with machine portions, and the compressed airstream from tube 4 snaps the cord after severance quickly into a true,straight line for accurate engagement with the next container.

While the process herein has been described in connection with thephysical apparatus illustrated, it will be understood that entirelydifferent apparatus may be used and, in fact, the

steps may be to a large extent accomplished manually and by the use of amanually-directed air stream, etc.

While I prefer to operate the solenoid valve 48 to close the compressedair line i! just prior to the engagement of the filament with thecontainer, the valve may, if desired, be omitted and the compressed airline used continuously for maintaining the filament accurately in theline required. I have found, however, that when the valve 48 is closedjust about the time that the container is engaging the filament or cord,there is a quick pick-up of the cord by the container without loss ofaccurate alignment of the cord and the operation is thus improved.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set out specific apparatusand specific method steps in considerable detail for the purpose ofillustrating embodiments of the invention, it will be understood thatsuch details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art Withoutdeparting from I the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In wrapping and filament-attaching apparatus, a frame, a trackcarried thereby for supporting a cylindrical container, means forapplying adhesive to the container, means for supporting a wrapperadjacent said track for engagement with said container, a tubecommunicating with a source of compressed air and having an open enddirected for discharging an air stream in front of the container, afilament supported adjacent said tube and having a free end portionengaged by said air stream, and means for rotating said container intoengagement with said filament and said wrapper to wrap the filamentabout the container and the wrapper about the filament and container.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, in which a cylindricallid-equipped container is rotated upon a track and in which adhesive isapplied to the container, a tube communicating with a source of fluidpressure and having an open end directed to discharge a stream ofpressure fluid in front of said container, means for supporting afilament with a free end portion engaged and supported by said stream,and a wrapper supported for engagement with said adhesive-equipped con-4. The structure of claim 2, in which said tube is provided near itsopen end with an opening through which said filament is extended intothe fiuid stream.

5. In a wrapping and filament-attaching apparatus, a track having raisedportions at an intermediate point, means for rolling a container uponsaid track, whereby when said container reaches said raised portions itis elevated, a filament-supporting member, means for supporting a freeend portion of said filament in front of a container, means for applyingadhesive to said container, whereby when said container is ro- 'tated,said filament is engaged by said container and drawn forwardly,filament-cutting means supported in an elevated position and engageablewith said filament when said container is raised by said track, andmeans for actuating said severing means for severing the filament whenthe container is elevated.

6. In apparatus for wrapping a container and attaching a filament aboutthe container, means for applying adhesive to a container, a tube membercommunicating with a source of compressed air and supported fordischarging a stream of air in front of said container a filamentsupported adjacent the discharge of said tube and adapted to be blown bysaid air against said adhesivecoated container, means for rotating saidcontainer in contact with said filament, and means for applying awrapper to said container, whereby upon the rotation of said containersaid wrapper is drawn to enclose said filament and a portion of saidcontainer.

7. In apparatus of the character set forth, a track, means for rolling acylindrical container upon said track, means for applying adhesive tosaid container, means for supporting a wrapper for engagement with saidcontainer to cause said wrapper to be drawn about said adhesive-coatedcontainer, means for discharging a restricted stream of air in front ofsaid container at a point prior to the wrapping of the container, and afilament support supporting a filament with a free end portion in saidstream whereby said filament end portion is supported in front of saidadhesive-coated container for adherence theretowhen said container isrotated.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth, a track, means for rolling acylindrical container upon said track, means for applying adhesive tosaid container, means for supporting a wrapper for engagement with saidadhesive-coated container to cause said wrapper to adhere thereto and tobe drawn about said container, means for I discharging a restrictedstream of air in front of 65! said container at a point prior to thewrapping of the container, a filament support supporting a filament witha free end portion in said stream,

whereby said filament end portion is supported in front of saidadhesive-coated container for adherence thereto when said container isrotated, an electrically-controlled valve for stopping the flow of saidstream of air, and a switch engageable by said container for controllingthe actuation of said valve.

9. In apparatus of the character set forth, a

track :al'on'g whichia cylindrical'a'containeriis toibe rolled, imea'nsfor'rol'lin*g;said container along said traclgfmean's for aapplyingad-hesive to :said container, means for attaching a wrapper tosa-ida'dhe'si-ve-coated container, a cord support, :a friction devicethrough which said cord extends, and a tube communicating-with a sourceof compressed air and supported for discharging a stream-of-air in-front 0f sai'd adhesive-coated container, said tube being provided nearits open end with an opening through "which said :cord is extended.

10. In apparatus of the character set forth-in which ia -conta'iner-issupported for roiling-upon a traok and coated with adhesive and'awrapper is 'attached to the-adhesi-ve, means for applying adhesive' tothe-"container, a=-tube communicating wit-Ina source of pressure andhaving its openend directed tor delivering anairstream infront ofsaid-container, endless belts engaging the outer edges of said containerfor rolling the same, means for supporting a filament in said air streamfor contact with said adhesive-coated container, whereby the rolling ofthe container canses' the filament-to adhere to the container, anda'shield'interposed"between said filament and theadjacent belt,

'11. *I-na process forwrapping a cylindrical container with atear-filament thereon, in which a containeriscoated withadhesive androtated,

the steps of directing air-in a "restricted stream 8 tainer to wrap thewrapper :about :the Jfiiamefit and cont ainer.

'12. In amethod for wrapping a container and attaching "a filament aboutthe jcontainer below the wrapper, the steps of-supporting a filament bymeans of a restricted air stream in front :offa cylindrical container,coating said container vwith adhesive, advancing the container-intoengagement with said filament and to engagement-with a wrapper, androlling the adhesive-coated container into 'contactsuccessively with thefilament and'wrapper'to draw thesame ab'cmti ti-ie container.

13. In apparatus of the character set forth,'-a track; means for rollinga cylindrical container along said track, means for applying adhesive tothe container, an electric valve-controlled tribe leading froma-sourceof compressed airand'supported for directing a stream of air in front orthe adhesive-coatedcontainer, means 'for supporting a filament adjacentsaid tube whereby a free end portion of thefilament is carried bysaidstream, means for supporting a wrapper for engagement with saidcontainer whereby said wrapper is attached to said container and to saidfilament as the container is rolled, electrically operated means forsevering said filament, and spaced switches engageable by said containeras itrdlls upon said track for closing said "air valve *andfor actuatingsaid severing means.

WILLIAM F.

References Cited in the file ofthisi-patent UNITED Y STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 696,218 Whitehurst Mar. 1902 2,056,388 Carlin 'Oct.6,1936 2,165,289 Milmoe "July-1'1, I939

